Ad Age: Microsoft and Yahoo finalizing search deal

It said the deal’s being finalized, with last minute haggling over how much Microsoft will pay up front and how the Bing brand will appear on Yahoo searches. An excerpt:

The deal, which would make Microsoft a more credible competitor to Google, is likely to be announced this week, and seems likely to be based on a revenue share, not on a big fat check upfront, as some at Yahoo had hoped.

It’s going to be a big story when it finally breaks, but it’s nothing like what a Microsoft-Yahoo merger would have been. Instead it’s turning out to be yet another big search partnership between and provider and a portal.

Brier Dudley offers a critical look at technology and business issues affecting the Northwest. Send tips or comments to bdudley@seattletimes.com. His column runs Monday, and his commentary appears here all week.